February 14, 2008
GOODWELL, Okla.–St. Mary’s University’s women’s basketball team made 10 three-pointers and rallied from a first-half deficit to win their 17th straight game, 68-61, against Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Heartland Conference women’s basketball action Thursday night. The Rattler men’s basketball team shot 53.8 percent from the field and rallied to win in overtime against OPSU, 87-83.
Natalie Gamez (Jr., San Antonio) led the way for the women with 19 points and eight rebounds. Ashton Benford (Jr., Waxahachie) also reached double figures in scoring with 14 points and nine rebounds. As a team the Rattlers shot 43.1 percent (25-58) from the field, including a sizzling 40.0 percent (10-25) from three-point range. The Rattlers trailed by a 32-30 count at the half, but outscored the Aggies 38-29 in the second half. The women are now 18-4 overall and 9-0 in Heartland Conference play. The win streak is now just two games away from the school record, set during the 2001-02 season.
For the men Rod Bellard (Jr., Beaumont) made 5-of-6 three-pointers, while Nick Morey (Jr., Belpre, Ohio) came off the bench to score 16 points and pull down eight rebounds in the Rattlers overtime win. OPSU led by 36-32 at the half, but the Rattlers outscored the Aggies by a 39-35 count in the second half to force overtime, then won the high-scoring overtime by a 16-12 margin. As a team the Rattlers hit on 31-of-58 shots from the field. With the win they broke a two-game losing streak and are now 12-10 overall, 5-3 in Heartland Conference play.
Both the men’s and women’s teams will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to Odessa, to face the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. The women will tip-off at 5:30 p.m., with the men scheduled to follow at 7:30 p.m.
IMPORTANT BASEBALL SCHEDULING NOTE: The St. Mary’s baseball team will now play their Heartland Conference doubleheader on Friday against the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, starting at 1 p.m. The doubleheader was originally scheduled for 2 p.m., but was changed due to the threat of inclement weather. The game will be broadcast on Sounds from the Snakepit at www.rattlerathletics.com